Ultimate Safari – Botswana, Victoria Falls & Zimbabwe – Premier Collection

Begin your safari adventure with an overnight flight to Zimbabwe. 

Rise early this morning ahead of your first morning game drive deep in the Chobe National Park. As dawn breaks over the open savannah, Chobe’s mesmerising landscapes come to life, and you’ll have the chance to watch the impalas, zebras, and giraffes grazing in the golden sunlight.  

Away from the noise of the crowds, you’ll venture into the most secluded sections of the park, allowing you to get as close as possible to the region’s rarest game. With an expert ranger at the helm, learn about the park’s unique ecosystems as you seek out its native species, from the elusive painted dog to the majestic southern lion, before pausing for a coffee and rusk break underneath the trees.  

You’ll then return to the lodge for breakfast and the rest of the morning will be free to relax. Perhaps opt for a spa treatment before lunch and one of the lodge’s optional activities in the afternoon. Join an optional afternoon activity like venturing over to Impalila Island, in neighbouring Namibia. Following a short boat ride across the Chobe River with a local resident, you can experience a tour of an authentic village.  

In the evening, head back out to the banks of the Chobe as the sun begins to set for an easy-going river cruise. Keep your eyes peeled for elephant sightings along the lush bank while the boat gently navigates its way, and the sky transforms into shades of pink and orange. Enjoy iced beverages and a range of snacks as you spot herds of native buffalo and wallowing hippos by the waters’ edge. Arriving back at the lodge, enjoy dinner under the stars.

Watch as the sun rises on the deck this morning before breakfast or join the other travellers for an optional activity at the lodge. A photographic boat cruise allows you to take snaps of the wildlife on the banks, using your own camera equipment.

Under the guidance of a knowledgeable expert, you’ll be taken to the perfect spots to capture nature at its most beautiful. The specialised photography boat is custom-designed with 360-degree revolving chairs and adjustable gimble rig swivels, meaning there will be no obstructions.   

After you’ve enjoyed lunch at your leisure, perhaps at the lodge or in the nearby town of Kasane, you’ll head out on an afternoon game drive. From the 4x4 open-air vehicle, observe as sable herds, antelope and warthog scurry through the ancient woodlands or lounge in thick grass.  

Return to the lodge for dinner this evening, at a location for your choosing.

This morning, bid your hosts farewell after breakfast and enjoy a scenic drive to your next stop, magnificent Victoria Falls. As you head south along the Chobe’s riverbanks, you’ll have one last chance to admire its incredible aquatic wildlife. Keep an eye out and you might even spot some of its impressive native hippos! 

Arriving in Victoria Falls, an artistic border town on the edge of its namesake waterfalls, you'll need to complete border formalities before checking into your next accommodation, the idyllic Palm River Hotel.

Afterwards, unwind and enjoy the afternoon at your own pace. Surrounded by nature, the hotel is ideally situated to immerse you in its serene environment. With the nearby river, colourful birdlife, and fertile landscapes, it offers a perfect retreat into the beauty of the local flora and fauna. You’ll also have full access to the property’s range of luxury amenities, including its three outdoor swimming pools, fitness suite and spa. 

For a memorable introduction to Victoria Falls, soar above its mist-laden landscapes on a fascinating optional helicopter flight. With purpose-built bubble windows and no middle seats on board, you’ll enjoy unrestricted views of the Batoka Gorge, Zambezi River and magnificent Victoria Falls on this panoramic 10-minute flight. After soaking up these unforgettable views, you’ll return to the ground and transfer back to the hotel.

Later in the evening, arts lovers can also opt to watch the award-winning ‘Simunye: Spirit of Africa’ with visit to the open-air Victoria Falls Theatre. This colourful spectacle of puppetry, dance and music, performed by a local theatre group, tells the tale of an exiled prince and his journey in search of a place to belong. What’s more, you’ll also be supporting local artists with each ticket sale.   

Start the morning with breakfast at the lodge before venturing out for one of your holiday’s unmissable highlights – a sightseeing experience around the glorious Victoria Falls. Formerly known as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ (or ‘The Smoke that Thunders’ in English), these spectacular waterfalls are fed by the Zambezi River and host a flourishing biosphere rife with unique flora and fauna. Though the National Park is relatively small, the namesake waterfalls are some of the largest in the world and offer truly memorable views.   

After your tour, you'll have the chance to find lunch (on your account) at the popular Lookout Café, which promises diners panoramic views over the falls.

This afternoon, step aboard a cruiser for a voyage along the wide Zambezi River, home to hippopotami, crocodiles and teeming marine ecosystems. This expansive waterway, the fourth largest on the continent, is also an ideal bird-watching hot spot with hundreds of species flocking to its banks each day, including the impressive African fish eagle, black skimmer, and marabou stork. Relax with a sundowner, in the company of your fellow guests, as you enjoy unobstructed views of the river’s untamed stretches. Once you’re back ashore this evening, you’ll be free to explore or relax at your own pace.   

Wake up early this morning, with the help of tea, coffee and biscuits, before heading out into Sable Valley’s breath-taking private concession as the sun rises over its neighbouring mountain peaks. The animals are most active in the early morning, with impressive herds of wildebeest, buffalo and zebra grazing in the cooler temperatures, and you’ll have plenty of time for some truly enchanting animal encounters. If you’re lucky, you might even see the resident big cats on the hunt.  

Later this morning, return to the lodge for breakfast and time at leisure ahead of a busy afternoon on safari. You can enjoy a refreshing dip in the swimming pool or share your wildlife sightings with your fellow travellers in the open-air lounge areas before you settle in for lunch on the lodge’s front deck. You can also pay the lodge’s impressive underground hide a visit for another chance to spot Hwange’s roaming local wildlife.  

Later this afternoon, after iced coffees at the lodge, your group will embark on the day’s second game drive. With its thriving elephant, lion and buffalo populations, this reserve is ideal for seeking out some of the most elusive sightings. Visit a series of nearby watering holes, which are popular amongst the native elephants and buffaloes, for the chance to watch nature in action. As the sun begins to set on Hwange, witness the bushveld ablaze with golden light, and keep an eye out for a few final glimpses of the reserve’s creatures.   

This evening, you’ll return to the lodge for a hearty dinner. Listen for the roar of big cats, though, and you may get the chance to head back into the park for a thrilling night drive. 

Enjoy breakfast at the lodge this morning before meeting the residents of a local village to learn about the rich blend of cultures that co-exist in Hwange and the efforts taken by these communities to mitigate the human-wildlife conflict. This immersive visit promises fascinating insights into the lifestyles of Hwange’s local people, who have to contend with the region’s predators.

Additionally, your visit today will also mark an enlightening opportunity to engage with some of the region’s most prominent cultures and languages. Round out your tour of the villages by learning about how your hosts, the Amalinda Safari Group, assist their local communities with a tour of the lion-proof bomas they’ve helped to build.  

Later on, return to the lodge for lunch and an early afternoon siesta, perhaps with a refreshing dip in the swimming pool, before heading back into the bush for a final game drive. Have your binoculars at the ready as you glide through the Savannah plains in search of a few final treasured sightings. As the sun sets on the park’s popular watering holes, you’ll see the animal kingdom at its most scenic, bathed in golden light.  

A final evening at leisure in Hwange awaits, making the most of your lodge’s decadent amenities and private hides. After dinner around the Captain’s Table, join the lodge’s ranger around the campfire for tales of their most thrilling animal encounters.

Have breakfast on the lodge’s veranda this morning ahead of the morning’s journey into the Matopos Hills. Before leaving the lodge, settle in for a wildlife talk courtesy of the expert rangers of the Amalinda Safari Collection’s Anti-Poaching Unit, who’ll run you through a day in the life of a scout and the efforts they take to safeguard Zimbabwe’s glorious natural world for future generations.   

You’ll then depart Hwange for the five-hour drive across Zimbabwe’s eastern countryside to your next stop, the renowned Matobo National Park. As you glide through central Zimbabwe’s vast savannah stretches, your expert driver will be on hand to point out the finer details of the diverse ecosystems that inhabit them. There will be time for a brief pit stop en route in rural Lupane, a charming town and district capital on the road to Zimbabwe’s second largest city, Bulawayo. You can also find lunch here (payable locally), and perhaps try ‘Slap Chips’, a local take on French fries that are then doused in salt and vinegar. If you’d prefer, packed lunches will also available.  

Back on the coach, enjoy views of the forested uplands and magnificent rock features as you approach Matopos before arriving at the incredible final safari lodge, which is built into the rockface of a granite plateau. Another of the Amalinda Safari Collection’s distinctive safari properties, this lodge is responsibly designed to preserve the rich cultural heritage of its pre-historic neighbouring caves. 

After check-in, you’ll have a few hours free to settle in, perhaps with a dip in the lodge’s infinity swimming pool, before joining your guides on foot for a gentle walk around the property. Stop for a sundowner, snacks and a fascinating introductory talk where you’ll learn about the flora, fauna and cultural significance of the Matopos Hills. Later this evening, reconvene at the Captain’s Table for dinner and enjoy an Amarula around the campfire with your fellow guests. 

Land back in the UK early this morning at the end of an unforgettable holiday.